Envelop and fastening therefor.



No. 7l0,684. :Patented Oct. 7 I902.

A. M. HANAN.

ENVELOP AND FASTENING THEREFOR.

(Application filed June 2, 1902.)

(No Model.)

m: norms PETERS c0. PHUTB'LITHQ" WASMXNGTON n c WWW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED M. HANAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ENVELOP AND FASTENING THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 710,684, dated October 7, 1902*.

Application filed June 2, 1902. Serial No. 109,917. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LALFRED M. HANAN,a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops and Fastenings Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to envelops; and it consists, substantially, in the improvements hereinafter particularly described.

The invention has reference more espe cially to that type of envelop comprising a device having prongs adapted to be projected through an opening in the flap thereof and bent against the latter to fasten the same when closed. As hitherto devised envelops of this kind have met with objection in some instances, for the reason that the fastening for the flap has usually been applied to the envelop in such manner as to cause sealed portions thereof to separate or pull apart under light strains, resulting in multilation of the envelop and frequent loss of the fastening device therefrom. Another objection has been the difficulty of application or attachment of the fastening device to the envelop, and inconvenience has also been encountered from the tendency of said device to slip or move about in-the act of bending the prongs thereof to fasten the flap, in place.

The present invention has for its object to overcome the disadvantages and objections above pointed out and to provide a simple and edective envelop of the character named in which greater resistance is had to strains tending to separate the fastening device from the envelop, substantially as will hereinafter more fully appear when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an envelop embodying my improvement, and Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional viev; showing the manner in which the fastening device for the flap is applied 'to a side portion of the body of the envelop. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, showing the manner in which portions of the prongs of the fastening device are bent against the outer surface of the side portion of the envelop to which said device is applied. Fig. 4 is also a similar View showing the manner in which the free extremities of the prongs of the fastening device are bent against the flap after being projected through an opening or eyelet provided therefor in the latter. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of my improved fastening device as shaped up for application or attachment to a side portion of the envelop. Fig. 6 is an edge view of the fastening device, and Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the form presented by the fastening device after portions of the prongs thereof are bent against the sealingface of the envelop. Fig. 8 is also a similar view showing the form presented by the fastening device when the prongs thereof are finally bent against the flap to secure the same.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated that I provide an envelop of any desired size or dimensions having the usual flap or closure, and I apply my improved fastening device for the flap to the side portion of the body of the envelop against which the flap is turned when closed, the outer surface of said side portion being usually denominated the sealing-face of the envelop. The said fastening device is preferably constructed of any light metal suitable for the purpose and comprises a flat member having bent prongs at the ends,which are projected through the side portion of the envelop from the inner side thereof, and portions of the prongs are then pressed flatwise against the outer surface of said body portion, leaving free parallel extremities, which are finally projected through an opening or eyelet in the flap and then bent in opposite directions against the flap to fasten or seal the same. The said flap may be unfastened at any time by simply bending the free extremities of the prongs substantially at right angles to the side of the envelop-and then turning the flap outwardly. When applied in the manner described, the fastening device is firmly held in place, and it may be stated that for a fastening device of given size considerable clamping area therefor is obtained on both sides of the side portion of the envelop to which the device is attached. Due to the special combination between said side portion and said device the latter is prevented from displacement from its support without the aid of auxiliary means therefor.

IOC

Specific reference being had to the accompanying drawings by the designating characters marked thereon,A represents an envelop, which may be constructed in any well-known way, but which is preferably constructed of a single sheet or strip of suitable material, as paper, folded or turned over a suitable distance from each of the longer edges thereof, as indicated at a a, to form an envelop-body having two side portions 12 c, the side portion 1) being formed at one end with an extension or flap d, which is folded against the outer surface of the side portion 0 and secured thereto to permanently close this end of the envelop. At the open end e of the envelop the said side portion 1) of the body thereof is also formed with an extension B, which is reinforced by turning the margins f fthereof inwardly at g g and fastening them together by means of an eyelet m, which also passes through the main part of this extension. Said extension B constitutes a closing-flap for the open end of the envelop, and it should be remarked that one of the meeting edges of the side portion 0 of the envelop is made to overlap the other for a suitable distance, as indicated at 47,, Figs. 2, 3, and 4, by which to obtain double thickness of material for the purpose hereinafter fully understood, the said overlapping edge of the said side portion 0 being permanently secured to the edge beneath for its full length by means of a suit able gum or mucilage. (Not shown.)

My improved fastening device O for the flap of the envelop consists of a flat body or member s, of suitable light metal, having prongs u it, which are bent substantially at right angles to said member s, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and this device I apply to the envelop at the proper point by first projecting the said prongs it Lt through the double thickness of material formed by the said meeting edges of the folded sections of the said side portion 0 of the envelop-body, said prongs passing through the side portion from the interior of the envelop, substantially as indicated in Fig. 1, the intermediate member s of the fastening device lying flatly against the inner side of the underlying meeting edge of the said folded sections of the said side portion 0, as shown in Fig. 2. To firmly secure the fastening device to the envelop, so as not to turn about nor be displaced on its support, I then carry the prongs u it toward each other by bending them at o '1), Fig. 3, and I press portions '0' '0 thereof flatly against the outer surface (constituting the sealing-face of the envelop) of the said side portion 0, leaving parallel extremities or terminal portions :1; a, over which the eyelet m of flap B is slipped by turning the latter against the sealing-face of the envelop, and finally the flap is fastened or secured to the side portion 0 of the envelop by bending said terminal portions 50 a: of the prongs flatly against the outer face of the said flap B, as clearly indicated at Fig. 4. In this way it will be seen that a very simple and effective fastening for said flap is obtained and also that maximum strength of attachment of the fastening device to the envelop is had with no liability to separation or tearing apart of scaled portions of the body of the envelop. The said fastening device is firmly clamped upon the side portion 0 of the envelop, and the special construction and organization of the severaleleinents constituting myimprovements have been found to possess decided advantages over many former embodiments hitherto devised with similar ends in view. It will be understood, however, that I do not confine myself tosaid construction and organization in their precise details, since variations therefrom may be made and still be within the scope of my invention. It will also be understood that my improved fastening device per 88 may be sold to the trade as a new article of manufacture capable of being applied to any ordinary envelop at present in use. The said device may be applied by hand; but in putting up large quantities of the envelops for the tradeI preferably employ a special machine which I have devised for the purpose. It will be still further understood-that while I have herein desig-. nated my improvements as embodied in the form of an envelop and fastening therefor the said improvements are also applicable to bags, pouches, and allstructures of analogous character. B

As will be observed, each of the prongs u u is preferably of a length in excess of substantially one-half the length of the body member s of the fastening device 0, thus enabling the said device to be applied and effectually operated in the manner herein set forth.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. An envelop or similar contrivance having a flap or closure, and a fastening device for said fiap comprising a body member in contact with the inner surface of a side portion of the envelop and having duplicate prongs projected through said side portion at Widely-separated points, each of said prongs being of length in excess of substantially onehalf the length of said body member and the two prongs being bent toward each other in contact with the outer surface of the side portion leaving the extremities thereof free and outstanding whereby they may be projected through the flap and bent over to secure the latter in closed position.

2. An envelop or similar contrivance having a flap or closure provided with an eyelet, and a fastening device for said flapcom-prising a body member in contact with the inner surface of a side portion of the envelop and having duplicate prongs projected through said side portion at widely-separated points, each of said prongs being of length in excess of substantially one-half the length of said body member, and the two prongs being bent toward each other in contact with the outer surface of the side portion leaving the extremities thereof outstanding and free and close together whereby they may be projected through the eyelet and bent down to secure the flap in closed position.

3. An envelop or similar contrivance comprising a body of Which one side portion is formed of folded sections with a margin of one section lapping a margin of the other, said body having a flap or closure; and a fastening device for said flap comprising a member having duplicate prongs projected through said lapped margins from the interior of the envelop at Widely-separated points, each of said prongs being of length in excess of substantially one-half the length of the said member, and the two prongs being bent toward each other in contact With the scaling-face of the envelop leaving the extremities of the prongs free whereby they may be projected through the flap and turned over to secure the latter in closed position.

a. An envelop or similar contrivance comprising a body of which one side portion is formed of folded sections with a margin of one section lapping a margin of the other, said body having a flap or closure provided with an eyelet; and a fastening device for said flap comprising a flat member in contact with the inner surface of said side portion and having duplicate prongs projected through said lapped margins at widely-separated points, each of said prongs being of length in excess of substantially one-half the length of said member, and the two prongs being bent toward each other in contact With the sealingface of the envelop leaving the extremities thereof outstanding and free and close together whereby they may be projected through said eyelet and bent over to secure the flap in closed position.

ALFRED M. HANAN.

W'itnesses:

FRED. J. Donn, E. EVERETT ELLIS. 

